Picture Books

2 Friendly New Picture Books for Helping Hands

| Tasha

Oh Dear, Look What I Got! By Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (9781536235685)

The masters who gave us We’re Going on a Bear Hunt reunite for another great read-aloud picture book in a similar style. A little boy heads from shop to shop asking for something but instead getting a rhyming item. He asks for a carrot and gets a parrot. He asks for a hat and gets a cat. Along the way, his lineup of animals steadily grows until he finally asks for a cup and gets a pup who manages to set in motion a real mess. In the end, the animals are returned to the shop keepers and the boy gets the items he wanted all along. 

This book is filled with energy and romping rhythms that make it a treat to read aloud. Rosen cleverly builds his rhymes into the story, creating moments that children can guess what the animal might be. He also uses repeating lines that audience members will enjoy saying along with the book character. “Do I want that? No, I do NOT!” The illustrations are pure Oxenbury joy, mimicking the structure of Bear Hunt while also creating something fresh and new. 

A great read-aloud pick that will be a new classic. Appropriate for ages 2-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Candlewick.

Piccolo by Dan Yaccarino (9780316574563)

Piccolo creates a list of the places he wants to visit in his Italian city that day. He makes it to the gelato store and almost gets to start eating, but his friend Mr. Rosso needs help carrying his artwork to the museum. Luckily, the museum is on Piccolo’s list of favorite places. Soon Piccolo is being asked to help with all sorts of things around town. He manages to either check most of the items off his list of places to visit or to do something very similar as he helps everyone. Unfortunately though, he doesn’t make it back in time for the gelato shop to be open. What’s a shrew to do? Happily, his friends come through. With Yaccarino’s signature illustration style, this Italian picture book merrily brings readers into the city and all around. Filled with all sorts of animals, the city is lively and active.

All the better to learn a bit of Italian along the way. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Hachette Book Group.

3 Smart New Picture Books for School Days

| Tasha

Jordan’s Perfect Haircut by Sharee Miller (9780316592284)

It’s almost picture day at school and everyone is talking about the great haircuts they are going to get. Jordan’s mom has made an appointment for him at the barbershop. It will be his first time getting his hair cut. Jordan likes his cloudlike hair and is very worried about going to the barber. When they get there, it’s busy and loud. Jordan sees classmates getting their new haircuts and his Mom sits down to get her done too. Soon it is Jordan’s turn and he knows just what haircut he wants. 

Miller captures both the worry of a child trying something new to them and also the busy community feel of a neighborhood barbershop. The writing is fast paced and inviting, with the first person perspective bringing readers directly into Jordan’s point of view. The illustrations are bold and colorful, tantalizing readers with what haircut Jordan will choose. 

A book that celebrates Black hair and culture. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Rain and the Reading Horse by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Hannah Salyer (9780063257252)

Rain has been signed up for a new school reading program: Giddy-Up and Read where she will read to a horse. She has never read to a horse before, but it can’t be worse than reading aloud to her classmates where the words catch in her throat. Snow stands in the stable, tail swishing but Rain isn’t ready to read that first day and instead spends her time mucking out the stall. Rain keeps coming, keeps trying to read, spending quiet yet busy time with Snow. Eventually, Rain whispered the book to Snow and she listened with twitching ears. Then the two got to ride together and over the days, Rain learned her book by heart.

Gianferrari captures the emotions and physical response of being shy and anxious. The book offers deep moments of quiet and solitude with an animal, slowing the reader down and allowing that stillness to spill out. The connection between reader and horse is built steadily and just as unrushed as their time with one another. This is a lovely picture book with pacing that matches the topic well. The illustrations are done in colored pencil and pastel, creating a warm softness around the budding relationship. 

A picture book that celebrates anxious children and the animals they love. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Clarion Books.

Recess by Lane Smith (9781419776892)

Welcome to a very loud picture book that celebrates the joy of recess. This is not a story book for children to sit quietly and enjoy, instead it’s a book where there are quiet parts and then very raucous moments built in. The book tells the story of being at school, sitting quietly at your desk until suddenly RECESS! The breaks for recess involve booty shaking, typing in the air, making trombone sounds, quacking like a duck, and much more. 

I love the swooping action of this picture book, the delight of moving from quiet to loud to quiet to loud. The beauty of shouting “Bananas!” or stomping your feet to make music. As always, Smith’s art is a large part of the story, capturing the quiet in subtle colors and then amping the color up for the repeating recesses. Sharing this one aloud may take a bit of practice beforehand and a willingness to get wild and just let things happen. 

Let the wild recess start. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

While We Wait by Bee Johnson – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

While We Wait by Bee Johnson  (9781250901231)

The sisters from What Can a Mess Make head out with their mother to run errands around town in this jaunty sequel. After finding their missing bag and gathering their phone, the three head out to the farmer’s market. They dance to some music and buy some flowers. Then they have to wait in line at the post office where they make a young friend along the way. They meet a puppy next, then make a mess in the vintage store. Lunch at the diner has a little chaos and then a dash home in the rain. Throughout the busy day, there are moments of waiting and what happens in those times is just as important as the rest of the day.

Johnson captures the dynamic nature of a busy day of errands in this picture book. From the list at the beginning of the book to the end where it’s all somehow been accomplished, the day is a glorious riot of moments spent together, items getting done and the busy city around it all. The text rhymes and has the repeating phrase “while we wait” that make it a pleasure to share aloud. The illustrations are merry, filled with small details that bring the world alive, and capture the warm love of family. 

Just right for your own busy day. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Henry Holt and Company.

Cat Nap by Brian Lies – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Cat Nap by Brian Lies (9780062671288)

This picture book is pure visual joy. A cat naps in the warm afternoon sun. Awoken by a mouse, the kitten follows the mouse into a poster about Egyptian Antiquities at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The first place they land is a sculpture with hieroglyphics. They run through the sculpture, taking on the art style as they pass by. They leap to the next, this time an illuminated manuscript. Then the next where they become clay sculptures. They pass through paintings, past wooden masks, into stained glass, and Japanese ink. Finally, Kitten realizes he is lost and can’t see the mouse anywhere. A kind monk from a gold leaf painting suggests he listen for home. Kitten can hear the food being poured into his bowl! 

The final pages of this picture book show the Caldecott Honor-winning artist working on the art for this book. Instead of doing the various styles digitally, Lies created the art, including all of the pottery, stained glass, gold leaf, paintings and sculpture. It’s such a rewarding read where the physicality of the art he created truly shows on the page. These are illustrations that will stop you and make you feel.

A romp through art, this picture book is one to inspire more exploration. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Greenwillow Books.

3 Superb Snowy New Picture Books

| Tasha

A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (9781250324733)

Amos McGee loves the snow, but all he has gotten so far is rain and wind. Then finally there is news that the first snow of the year is on its way. Happily, he has just finished his knitting and offers all of his zoo friends scarves, hats, socks or clothing to keep them warm in the snow. Everyone waits for the snow that day, but it never comes. However, overnight the snow arrives starting with just one flake. By the morning, the snow is deep enough for snow angels, snow art and shoveling. It’s just right for one more thing too: sledding! The day ends with cocoa for everyone with extra marshmallows.

This third Amos McGee book is just as charming as the first two. Amos and his animal friends share the glee of small children when the first snow comes and invite readers to join in the joy of playing in the snow with them. I appreciate how Stead creates a world where the quiet of snow is also part of the beauty of it for children. The illustrations are lovely with their fine lines and details. They make an elephant and rhino deep in the snow immensely believable. 

Another delightful book in a great series. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Roaring Brook Press.

Snow Kid by Jessie Sima (9781665966085)

A group of children make a snow kid on a winter day, giving them a carrot nose, stick arms, and a top hat. They name the snow kid, Twig. When Twig is left along in the snowy woods, a cold breeze takes their hat which makes Twig cry out. Twig had never spoken before and now wonders what else they could do! Twig is soon walking and talking, journeying down the hill, getting bigger and losing their carrot nose. But what makes them Twig? Are these changes making them into someone else? When Twig discovers a clearing full of unique snow people, they realize that there are many different ways to be and that they can decide who to be themselves.

Sima writes this picture book from Twig’s point of view and beautifully captures the existential questions that Twig has. Using gender-neutral pronouns and inclusive language, the picture book shows that embracing change is part of life and that transformation can be a way of finding one’s true self. The illustrations are a lovely mix of snowy delights and winter fun with wistful blues that give space for questions and exploration. 

Young children exploring their gender expression will find a kindred spirit in Twig. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster.

Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by Dalton Webb (9780063434912)

Wolf wants to win the sled race, so Wally says she hopes he does. Otto the auk wants to win too, so Wally says she hopes they both win! Soon they are at the starting line, but Otto and Wolf crash almost immediately. Wally sails on past, suddenly winning. But the two fallen friends are sucked up into a huge snowball that comes after Wally. Perhaps she was right about not having to win all along! Told in speech bubbles, this picture book reads like a large-format graphic novel. The three friends are a great mix of characters just right for a silly sledding sequence. 

Share this one at winter story times. Appropriate for ages 3-6. 

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Greenwillow Books.

All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson, illustrated by Winona Nelson (9781665931373)

Clay was determined to be selected as the last start of the week for his classroom that year. He ran home to ask the advice of the smartest person he knew, his grandmother. When Clay explained that the star would make him the most important person at school, Elisi frowned and said that his family and community were more important than any individual. Clay was disappointed and confused. That night, Elisi used the star-filled sky to show Clay what she had meant. One star is only part of an entire constellation. Clay thought about what his grandmother had said and when he was made Star of the Week, he knew exactly what to do.

When reading this picture book, I was first struck by the indigenous beadwork created by the illustrator from her Ojibwe heritage. It is a beautiful part of all of the watercolor and pencil illustrations, making the art entirely unique, adding colorful flow to the pages, forming frost crystals and making stars and suns. Created by an author of Cherokee descent, the story is told in a frank and engaging way, focusing on the difference between the importance of individual vs. community. 

A unique and beautiful book to get readers thinking. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Family Feast! by Carole Boston Weatherford – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Family Feast! By Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (9780593898291)

Big Ma and Pops start bright and early preparing for the family to visit. They peel fruit for pie and get the fish ready to fry. As people arrive, the kitchen gets busy, filled with various dishes either prepared right there or brought in by cousins, uncles and aunts. There are the noises of the kitchen, the pride of those providing dishes they are known for, and the longing of the children to start eating. The family gathers at the table, offers a prayer, and then start to eat. Afterwards, there is dessert, a few naps and once night comes everyone heads home. 

This merry and loving picture book has been created by two masters of the form. It has a refrain that captures the entire story: “Tastes like home when family meet; a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” The writing is done in rhyming stanzas that add to the feeling of joy and the buoyant nature of the get-together. The illustrations are fabulous, capturing a family gathering from various perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the image looking down at the table before they begin to eat and also when we see the gathering from the perspective of the children in the room. 

Joy in family and gathering together shines in this picture book. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Crown Books for Young Readers.

2 New Picture Books Full of Child Power – Book Recommendations

| Tasha

Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales (9780823447541)

Welcome to the world of little rebels. You can be one too! Little rebels are looking for stories. They make poetry. They are dreamers and while rebellious they make sure to take care of others along the way. They know to turn to their ancestors when things get too big for them to change and also to change smaller things as they can. They learn and grow, making their own magic rather than waiting for it to happen. 

Based on the author’s childhood experience at a freshwater lagoon and then her return in adulthood to find it dried up, this picture book explores nature with three BIPOC child characters who serve as additional voices in the story via their speech bubbles. Accompanied by animal friends, the three travel a landscape of frogs, plants and then desolation. Morales is calling for action, for caring for one another, for kindness and awareness in this book. 

Strong and haunting. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Reviewed from copy provided by Neal Porter Books.

Together, United by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier (9781338752052)

This is the final book in the All Because You Matter trilogy. It is a picture book that speaks to the fact that all children were born of stars and brought to just this place via gravity and the Big Bang. The book is about using your voice and finding your gifts to share with others. It strongly points out that if we work together the impact of our efforts is far beyond what we could do alone. This is a book for our times and for children of today. As always, Collier’s art is tremendous, particularly when combined with the poetic skill of an author like Charles. Combined with the other books in the series, it is a call to action, a demand that we use our voices and an empowering book to share with children who may feel scared and powerless. Appropriate for ages 5-10.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss and Scholastic.

The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers (9798765670507)

When one of the ducks wants to go to the lake, Eric asks about the monster that lives there. The other ducks assure him that that’s just a story and there are only fish and frogs in the lake, so he follows them reluctantly. When he peeks his head below the surface, he sees the huge horned monster there. When he shouts to the other ducks, they think he is joking and keep on swimming. Eric soon finds himself face-to-face with the monster, but it’s not quite what he expected.

Timmers builds wonderful suspense here as he fills the page mostly with green lake water with the ducks way at the top. The fish and frogs float past and the reveal of the monster is great fun and deftly paced for maximum impact. Though this is a book with a monster, there is a merriment that keeps the feelings light, plus the monster itself helps with that since it’s quite charming. A great combination of building story line and brilliant use of the page, this would make a great read aloud for older children. 

A monstrously great book to sink into. Appropriate for age 4-7.

Reviewed from copy provided by Gecko Press.